The Site of Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas

By Judge J. P.
Simpson

In the year 1836, myself
and a friend determined to explore and examine the country in
Arkansas and Texas, in view of investing in land speculation, if
pleased. We' traveled over some fourteen counties in that wild and
romantic state, amongst those liberal frontiersmen and hunters, who
gave us some exciting and interesting accounts of exciting scenes in
Texas, in which they had participated, some 20 years before in their
hunting and camping enjoyments, which was not related in collegiate
style to us hut was told more in the romantic and frontier dialect
of narration, probably with which they were best acquainted.

They stated some 20 years before, they camped and hunted on the
south side of Red River, some distance up the stream at a beautiful
grove, which was a place of resort for the sportive back-woodsman to
gratify his love for that kind of life amongst immense herds of
buffalo, antelope, elk and deer, and from the immense quantity of
honey found in the timber around and in the grove and along down the
creek, they had given it the appropriate name of Honey Grove ; and
from the great quantity of water consumed along the creek by those
inventors and manufacturers of the sweetest element in nature, they
gave the creek the name of Bee, which name it has retained to the
present.

In 1837, when moving to the frontier there was no house from where
Paris now stands until you reached the west side of Bois d' Arc
Creek. When in sight of Honey Grove, I knew that must be the point
described by the Arkansas hunters. It arose in majestic grandeur, in
the west before, me and the story related to me by the backwoods
hunters was fast and fresh in my imagination as when first related,
and I felt myself draw the rein and whip to increase our speed. But
when I arrived at the point, there lay the buffalo, antelope and elk
horns in immense heaps and I changed my opinion of the Arkansas
hunters' story, as no tale of Gulliver but matter of fact plainly
exhibited before me. In my imagination when looking forward to
accumulating years by the hand of time, the energy, industry and
perseverance of humanity, I thought I could see portrayed in beauty
of location by the hand of nature in design in the future, the
building up of a wealthy city of no mean magnitude. But I had lost
the boon; another immigrant had unloaded his wagon, and was living
in a tent until he could get a home in order for future location of
his head right.

But how changed the times then and now. No sociable and friendly
neighbors then to visit near the place; no business transactions in
commerce or any secular business. But now magnificent dwellings,
large supplies of goods, and other articles of comfort and
requirement at hand in abundance; the country settled with civilized
humanity far and near, but the best of all is we have the Gospel
preached unto us and the songs of Zion are heard to echo through our
land, and peace and plenty reign supreme.

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